Pyrochlore | |
---|---|
General | |
Category | Oxide mineral |
Formula (repeating unit) | (Na,Ca)2Nb2O6(OH,F) |
IMA symbol | Pcl[1] |
Strunz classification | 4.DH.15 |
Dana classification | 08.02.01.01 Pyrochlore group |
Crystal system | Isometric |
Crystal class | Hexoctahedral (m3m) H-M symbol: (4/m 3 2/m) |
Space group | Fd3m (No. 227) |
Unit cell | a = 10.41(6) Å, Z = 8 |
Identification | |
Color | Black to brown, chocolate-brown, reddish brown, amber-orange, red-orange |
Crystal habit | Typically octahedra, disseminated granular, massive |
Twinning | 111 rare |
Cleavage | 111 indistinct, may be a parting. |
Fracture | Subconchoidal to uneven, splintery |
Tenacity | Brittle |
Mohs scale hardness | 5.0–5.5 |
Luster | Vitreous to resinous |
Streak | White |
Diaphaneity | Subtranslucent to opaque |
Specific gravity | 4.45 to 4.90 |
Optical properties | Isotropic, weak anomalous anisotropism |
Refractive index | n = 1.9–2.2 |
Other characteristics | Radioactive, often metamict |
References | [2][3][4][5] |
Pyrochlore (Na,Ca)2Nb2O6(OH,F) is a mineral group of the niobium end member of the pyrochlore supergroup. Pyrochlore is also a term for the crystal structure Fd3m. The name is from the Greek πῦρ, fire, and χλωρός, green because it typically turns green on ignition in classic blowpipe analysis.[4]